Bridle-bit.



PATENTED DBC. 1o, 1907.

No. 873,604V

J. RBICHERT.

BRIDLE BIT.

APPLICATION FILED IBBJZ, 1907.

Qin!

JOHN REICHERT, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN.

BRIDLE-BIT.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

' Patented Dec. 1o, 1907.

Application led February l2. 1907. Serial No. 356.992.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN REICHERT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Racine, county of Racine, State of I/Visconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridle-Bits; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable lothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in bridle bits; and the objects and nature of my invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art in the light of the following explanation of what I now consider my preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, from among other structures within the spirit and scope of my invention.

An object of the invention is to provide certain improvements in and relating to the general type of bridle bit disclosed by U. S. Patent No. 422,529, issued to B. M. Johnson and me on March 4, 1890, whereby certain advantages will be attained in bits of this type.

A further object of the invention is to provide certain improvements in details of construction and in combinations and arrangements of parts for the production of a comparatively simple, durable and highly eiiicient My invention consists in certain novel features in construction and in combinations or arrangements of parts as more fully and particularly set forth hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings Figure 1, is a perspective view showing the bit applied to the animal. Fig. 2, is an end view. Fig. 3, is a top plan view, the parts being shown in normal driving positions as an easy bit, a portion` of one cheek piece being broken away. Fig. 4, is a top plan view showing the positions of the parts when the pull on the reins has been increased beyond the ordinary guiding or driving pull, to apply the harsh bit. Fig. 5, is a detail vertical section on the line 5 5, Fig. 3. Fig. 6, is a perspective view of a portion of the bit, looking at the inner side of a cheek piece and the lever passing therethrough, the parts being shown in normal position.

The bit shown comprlses the mouth or bit bar 1 g the enlarged or ring-like cheek pieces 2, at their front edges pivotally joined to the bit bar ends 5 and the short cam or rein receiving levers 3, pivotally joined to the bit bar and passing through and controlling the cheek pieces. The bit bar 1, is usually bowed and formed at its extremities with vertical eyes 10, and at the central portion of its rear edge can be formed with a flange or enlargement 11, at its op osite end portions formed with the vertica eyes or perforations 12.

Each cheek piece is, in the specific example illustrated, in the form of a comparatively large ring extending rearwardly from the bit bar end. At its front each ring passes loosely and vertically through an end eye 10, of the bit bar, and is formed with shoulders 20, above and below eye 10, to hold the cheek piece in proper position with respect to said bit bar and yet permit said cheek pieces to swing in lsaid eyes 10 toward and fromthe animal's cheeks. Each cheek piece extends rearwardly from the bit bar a distance equal to the diameter of the cheek piece, and has a horizontal or diametrical slideway extending rearwardly from the bit bar eye and formed by the parallel spaced horizontal diametrical bars 21, merging into and extending rearwardly from the shoulders 20, and at their rear ends merging into the frontwall or bar of the rein receiving eye or ioop 22, located at the rear end of the cheek piece. The levers 3, extend through said slideways of the cheek pieces and fit loosely between the horizontal bars 21. Each lever 3, is preferably curved or bowed longitudinally and at its inner end formed with a closed eye 30, loosely passing through one of the intermediate eyes 12, of the bit bar. Each lever 3 is formed in one piece with a vertically disposed rein or line loop or eye 32, at its outer end forming an outward continuation of the lever andarranged outwardly beyond the cheek piece through which the lever passes with the outer vertical bar of the loop arranged a distance outwardly beyond the cheek piece. The lever, at the rear face of its outer end and just in front of the loop 32 can be, and preferably is formed with a double inclined cam face or rounded protuberance or boss 33.

Each cheek piece intermediate the distance between the loop 22 and the bit bar eye 10, is provided with a vertical cross bar 23 extending between and preferably formed integral with the two horizontal bar's 21, and this vertical cross bar 23 is preferably offset outwardly. This cross baris arranged approximately in the line of the vertical diameter of the cheek piece and forms a stop limiting the independent rearward movement of the lever in the cheek piece, being so arranged' and located with respect to the lever that when the cheek pieces and the levers are in their normal positions to form an easy bit the levers will approximately engage said cross bars, with the cross bars or the rollers thereon resting against the rear or outer faces of the double cani inclines at the outer ends of the levers, so that more than Ordinar)T rearward pull on the outer ends of the levers will cause said cam faces to quickly and forcibly press the cheek pieces inwardly. The arrangement however, is such that said cams forma depression in which said cross bars of the cheek pieces rest requiring a hard or more than mere guiding pull on the reins to throw the cheek pieces inwardly to grip the cheeks of the animal and thus constitute a harsh bit. The cross bars of the cheek pieces normally rest between the highest portions of said cams and the rein loops of the levers so that the ordinary driving pull on the reins for guiding the animal will not cause the levers to throw the cheek pieces inwardly with sufficient pressure against the animals cheeks to form the harsh bit, but when the reins are subjected to a hard pull, the cross bars riding up on said cams will throw the cheek pieces inwardly very quickly and forcibly by a comparatively slight rearward movement of the levers.

I preferably mount a vertically `disposed anti-friction roller 25, on each cross bar to form a rolling lever engaging surface and to increase the throw of each cheek piece. I offset the lcross bars to prevent rubbing engagement thereof with the cheeks of the animal should the rollers not be employed, and where the rollers are employed, to prevent 'engagement thereof with the cheek of the animal, although I do not wish to limit all features of my invention to the offset cross bar no'r to the employment of the rollers but from a specific standpoint advantages are attained by the employment of both of these features;

In bits of the general type of my present invention, as hereto employed, the cheek pieces are swung inwardly to form the harsh bit by engagement of the levers with the rear bars of the front rein'loops ofthe cheek pieces, thereby permitting extensive independent movement of the levers in the cheek pieces and causing the cheek pieces to swing in such a distance and at such a sharp angle `as to injuriously engage the gums of the animal.

It is an object of my present invention, to so arrange the parts that the cheek pieces will extend a maximum distance rearwardly to forcibly engage the cheeks or lower jaw of the animal which contain the sensitive nerves so that the animal can be controlled by pressure on these nerve containing cheeks, without injuriously engaging the gums. It is with this end in view, among others, that I couple the extreme front portions of the cheek pieces to the bit bar ends,

and arrange the lever engaging cross bars of the cheek pieces intermediate the lengths of the bars 2l, so that the cheek pieces will extend rearwardly a considerable distance beyond the cross bars, whereby the independent movement of the levers in the cheek pieces will be very slight, and preferably so form the levers that comparatively extensive and forcible inward movement of the cheek pieces can be attained by comparatively slight rearward movement of the levers.

I also attain material advantages by extending or continuing the levers outwardly a distance beyond the cheek pieces in the form of rein loops rigid with the levers, whereby I attain increased leverage on the cheek pieces and the reins are held a distance outwardly from the cheek pieces.

The short levers 3, are pivotally joined to the bit bar at separated points on opposite sides of the center ofthe bit bar, and the central portion of the bit bar between the perforations 12, is imperforate to prevent slobbering. I find that an open longitudinal loop at the rear of the central portion of the bit bar causes the animal to slobber whether the loop be formed on the bar or by the inner crossed ends of the levers.

I also so arrange my levers and Icheek pieces that the outward swing of either cheek piece is limited, for instance, against swing outwardly beyond the position shown by Fig. 8. This is of advantage as it prevents the bit being drawn through the animals mouth by excessive pull on one rein, In my device, the short levers curve rearwardly and outwardly to bring the rigid rein loops 32, at the outer faces of the intermediate portions of the cheek pieces, thereby forming effective stops against outward swing of said cheek pieces. Also I prefer to extend the slideway in each cheek piece for the lever to the front of the piece so that the lower barsof the slide-y ways uphold the levers and will engage the rigid loops thereof.

In bits of this type heretofore employed, the loose rein rings of the levers, in connection with the formation and arrangement `of the cheek pieces, permitted such outward swing of the cheek pieces that under excessive pull on one rein, the bit could be drawn through the animals mouth, the opposite rein being loose and permitting the adjacent cheek piece to swing out and pass `edgewise into the animals mouth.

Each cheek piece is preferably formed in one piece with a top loop 26, for the cheek strap, and with the large bottom opening 27 through which the doubled reins can pass and from which they can hang during hitching and unhitching, and when the bridle is hung up.

The rein loops of the cheek pieces are adapted to receive the reins when the bit is to be used solely as an easy bit. While the cam faces 33, constitute a feature of my present invention, yet I do not wish to limit all features of my invention, to employment therewith.

It is evident that various modifications and variations might be'resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the exact construction shown.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is i l. A bit comprising a bit bar at the central portion of its length having a rear Harige with vertical end perforations, swinging cheek pieces extending rearwardly from the ends of the bit bar and at their front portions pivotally confined thereto, outwardly extending levers passing through said cheek pieces and at their inner ends lia-ving eyes confined in said perforations, each lever having a rein loop rigid therewith and'forming an outward continuation thereof beyond the cheek piece, said cheek pieces having lever stops limiting the rearward independent swing of the levers in the cheek pieces.

2. A bit comprising a bit bar, rearwardly extending swinging cheek pieces at their front portions pivotally joined to the ends of the bit bar, levers at their inner ends pivotally joined to intermediate portions of the bit bar and extending outwardly and loosely through the cheek pieces, each lever having a rein loop beyond its cheek piece, each cheek piece formed with` a lever slideway and with an offset lever engaging stop provided with a roller and arranged intermediate the front and rear extremities of the cheek piece.

3. A bit comprising a mouth bar, swinging cheek pieces pivotally joined to and extending rearwardly from the mouth bar, and levers pivotally joined to the intermediate portion of the mouth bar and extending outwardly and loosely through the cheek pieces and at their outer ends adapted to receive the reins, each cheek piece formed with a lever stop, the outer portion of the rear edgeV of each lever' being formed with a depression to receive said stop.

4. A bit comprising a mouth bar, swinging cheek pieces pivotally joined to and extending rearwardly from the mouth bar, and levers pivotally joined to the intermediate portion of the mouth bar and extending outwardly and loosely through the cheek pieces and at their outer ends adapted to receive the reins, each cheek piece being formed with an intermediate lever stop bar, each lever at its outer portion having a cam incline, said adapted Ato engage said offset bars to press i the cheek pieces inwardly.

6. A bit comprising a bit bar, swinging cheek pieces extending rearwardly from and pivotally joined to the ends of the bit bar,

each cheek piece formed with a rearwardly extending slideway and with a vertical stop bar provided with an anti-friction roller mounted thereon, and oppositely extending levers pivoted to the mouth bar and extending outwardly loosely through said slideways and at their outer ends adapted to receive the reins. l

7. A bit comprising a bit bar, ring-like swinging cheek pieces pivotally joined to and extending rearwardly from the ends of the bit bar, and each having an outwardly offset vertical cross bar and an anti-friction roller mounted thereon, and the levers pivotally joined to the bit bar and extending outwardly through said cheek pieces and at their outer ends formed to receive the reins.

8. A bit comprising a bit bar, rearwardly extending swingable cheek pieces at their front extremities pivotally oined to the bar ends, each cheek piece formed with a rein loop at its rear end and with substantially parallel spaced guide bars from the front wall of said loop to the front wall of the cheek piece and with a stop bridging the space between said bars and arranged about centrally between the front and rear edges of the cheek piece and intermediate the distance between the front wall of said loop and the front edge of the cheek piece, and reinv levers spaced apart and at their inner ends pivotally joined to opposite portions of the central part of said bit bar, said levers extending outwardly between said guide bars and in front of said stops and at their outer ends formed with rigid rein loops forming enlarged outward extensions of said levers, substantially as described.

9. A bridle bit comprising a bit bar, rearwardly extending swingable cheek pieces at their front portions pivotally joined to the bar ends and each formed with a longitudinal opening therethrough constituting a lever guideway and with a lever stop arranged about centrally between the front and rear extremities of the cheek piece and forming the rear wall of the guide way, and a pair of rein levers having their inner ends spaced and pivotally joined to the bit bar,

4 y fsvasoi tween the center and an end thereof and from thence extending outwardly rand rear wardly through the guide way of the adjacent cheek piece, and outwardly beyond said cheek piece provided with an enlarged rein loop of greater length vertically than the width of said guideway, whereby said levers when in their normal forward positions engage said stops with said rein loops engaging the cheek pieces and maintaining said cheek pieces in their normal rearwardly extending positions and against outward movement,

lever and yengaging the cheek piece against outward swing thereof.

11A. A bridle bit comprising a bit bar, swingable cheek pieces pivotally joined to and extending rearwardly from the bit bar ends and each formed with a guideway therethrough having a lever stop, and a pair of short rein levers at their inner ends pivotally joined to :intermediate portions of the bit bar, each lever extending outwardly and rearwardly from its inner end through the guideway of the adjacent cheek piece and in front of the stop thereof, .and outwardly beyond the :cheek piece formed with a rigid enlarged rein loop of greater length than the width loi the -guideway, said rigid rein loops engaging said cheek pieces and forming stops against the outward swing of said cheek pieces beyond their normal rearwardly extending lposi-tions.

In ltestimony whereof I alTiX my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN REICHERT.

Witnesses:

HUBERT E. PECK, E. R. PECK. 

